Law enforcement simultating board game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A game for simulating law enforcement in an urban environment comprising a game-board having an illustrative surface which simulates a plurality of intersecting pathways and a plurality of buildings or building-lots which are isolated and separated from one another through the intermediary of the intersecting pathways. A plurality of game-pieces, some of which are constituted by thief-simulating vehicles and others by policeofficial simulating vehicles, are provided for stepwise adancement along the intersecting pathways pursuant to random intelligence supplied by respective throws of dice. A plurality of discs which simulate currency are disposed in strategic locations on the various lots so as to be stolen by the thiefsimulating vehicles when the latter terminate respective stepwise advancements proximate a lot upon which is provided simulated currency. The police-official simulating vehicles are provided for effecting arrest of the thief-simulating vehicles by appropriately &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;boxing-in&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; the thief-simulating vehicles along the pathways.

United States Patent [191 Paraskevas 1 LAW ENFORCEMENT SIMULTATING BOARD GAME APPARATUS Christos G. Paraskevas, 308 Hemluck St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11208 Filed: July 14, 1971 Appl. No.: 162,408

[76] Inventor:

US. Cl 273/134 AC, 273/134 D Int. Cl. A63f 3/00 Field of Search 273/131, 134

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1922 Fischer 273/131 K 4/1923 Johannesen 273/134 AC UX Primary ExaminerDelbert B. Lowe Attorney-Abraham Friedman et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A game for simulating law enforcement in an urban 51 Oct. 16, 1973 throws of dice. A plurality of discs which simulate currency are disposed in strategic locations on the various lots so as to be stolen by the thief-simulating vehicles when the latter terminate respective stepwise advancements proximate a lot upon which is provided simulated currency. The police-official simulating vehicles are provided for effecting arrest of the thief-simulating vehicles by appropriately boxing-in the thiefsimulating vehicles along the pathways.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures bm tru mzl CIEKIIQEIJCI clcyclmclm MTZISUQQQ HUGS c1131: :IQQLJGCJ l2 VA U'C/ C1 l; 1 '1 L -1'ni1 [:1 'GEIIJQ GC: 51:11: '51:]: ain/4111mm :lE.l-El|:ll: l 1:1 7 EIIIIZIE l4 GCJ'IJIZHIJQ '12 @[IICIGLJEJ F S/ QQ Patented Oct. 16, 1973 3,765,680

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ('HHISTOS (1. PARASMI'H AS INVENTOR ATTORNEYD LAW ENFORCEMENT SIMULTATING BOARD GAME APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to amusement devices, and more particularly to a game which simulates the general scope of law enforcement.

The field of law enforcement, as is generally understood with regard to robbery, fundamentally accounts for certain basic concepts such as that of the prevention of a crime, the criminal act, the capture or arrest of the criminal, temporary legal relief such as bail, recapture of the criminal should another criminal act be effected after bail or, alternatively of the latter, the effecting of a perfect crime.

Conventional games which to some degree simulate the field of law enforcement, because of the structural arrangement, game-pieces, other appurtenances and the general approach thereof, fail to most effectively simulate the field of law enforcement because of the failure to completely or most effectively account for the fundamental principals such as prevention of a crime, the criminal act itself, capture of the criminal, bail for the criminal, recapture of the criminal upon effecting a further criminal act or, alternatively, the realization of a perfect crime.

Since the public at large, and more particularly youngsters who are most amused by playing games of this sort, are generally excited by, or at the very least curious about, the so-called perfect crime and those measures taken by law enforcement officials for preventing the perfect crime, games of this nature generally find great public acceptance notwithstanding the failure on the part of conventional games of this nature for most realistically simulating law enforcement procedure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a game which most realistically simulates law enforcement procedure.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a law enforcement simulating game which accounts for such fundamental principals as prevention of a crime, the criminal act, capture of the criminal, furtherance of another criminal act by the criminal out on bail, recapture of the criminal, or, alternatively to the latter, the effecting of a perfect crime.

To this end, the present invention relates generally to a law enforcement simulating game comprising means for defining a plurality of intersecting pathways. Game pieces are movable in stepwise fashion along said pathways. Means are provided for simulating currency. Means are provided which extend along said pathways for selectively accommodating the simulated currency. Means are provided for defining successive, equally spaced positions along said pathways where said game pieces can stop when moving stepwise along said pathways. Means are also provided for determining by chance the permitted extent of the stepwise movement of said game pieces. Said game pieces include a plurality of first game pieces and a plurality of second game pieces distinguishable from said first game pieces. According to the presently preferred embodiment, said first game pieces each simulate the appearance of a vehicle having a predetermined configuration while said second game pieces each simulate the appearance of another vehicle having a configuration different from said predetermined configuration. At least two first game pieces and four second game pieces are provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above and additional objects and advantages in view as will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of a game-board upon which the game, pursuant to the present invention, is to be played;

FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the game-board illustrated in FIG. 1 upon which is displayed one method of effecting an arrest pursuant to the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a view generally similar to that of FIG. 2, and a further method for effecting an arrest pursuant to the game rules of the present invention; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively show dice and plastic discs used in conjunction with the game in accordance with the present invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, the present invention comprises a game-board surface denoted generally by the reference character 10. Provided on the game-board surface 10 are a plurality of isolated geometrical configurations such as triangles, squares and rectangles, all of which are spaced from one another and simulate building sites or lots in an urban environment. interposed between the isolated geometrical configurations 12 are spaces which define pathways 14 which extend generally in inclined or in part mutually perpendicular relation to one another. Intersecting and communicating with the pathways 14 are a pair of bridges 16 which, as will be described below, constitute safe areas and positions at which certain game-pieces are to be placed at the initiation of the game pursuant to the present invention. The bridges 16 extend generally in parallel relation and overlie a body of water 18, the latter extending adjacent the generally urban environment defined by the isolated geometrical configurations 12 on the gameboard surface 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the game-board surface 10, along the pathways 14 of the latter, includes a plurality of spaced indicia 20 constituted by small circular elements which define positions along which the game-pieces, pursuant to the present invention, may be advanced in stepwise fashion. In this respect, the gamepieces generally include a plurality of police-simulating vehicles 22 and a plurality of thief-simulating vehicles 24, which vehicles 22 and 24 generally differ from one another either in shape or color so as to permit ready distinction thereof during the progress of the game. The game is played by utilizing a plurality of plastic discs 40 (FIG. 5) for simulating currency or other valuables and a pair of dice 30 (FIG. 4) for imparting generally random intelligence from which is derived the stepwise advancement of the game-pieces 22 and 24 respectively.

The game is initiated by placing two thief-simulating vehicles 24 at the safe areas on the bridges 16 respectively and four police-simulating vehicles 22 at the positions denoted by the reference character 26, which are located rather remote from the bridges or safe areas 16 upon which are provided the thief-simulating vehicles 24 respectively. Obviously, the game should be played by two players, one of which operates the police-simulating vehicles 22 and the other of which operates the thief-simulating vehicles 24. The player who operates the police-simulating vehicles 22, then, strategically locates or positions 50 of the plastic discs 40 which simulate currency upon the various isolated geometrical configurations 12 or building sites respectively. The object of the game is for the player who is associated with the thief-simulating vehicles 24 to steal all 50 of the plastic discs prior to being arrested by the police-simulating vehicles 22, the theft and arrest procedures being clarified below.

In the preferred embodiment, pursuant to the present invention, each of the discs 40 represents 20,000 dollars in currency and they have a combined value of 1 million dollars. The net effect or object of providing simulated currency which amounts to 1 million dollars is to psychologically enhance the players interest in the game as it is played. After the plastic discs and gamepieces 22 and 24 respectively are all properly positioned for initiating the game, one of the players, he who is associated with the thief-simulating vehicles 24, then throws the pair of dice 30, each die representing or indicating the stepped advancement over the circular indicia elements 20 of the thief-simulating vehicles 24 respectively. In this respect, the player must define before hand, prior to displacing the vehicles 24, which of the dice corresponds to a particular one of the vehicles 24. Thus, the player associated with the thiefsimulating vehicles 24 has the option of deciding not only in what direction he wishes to move the vehicles 24 along the indicia 20, but also the number of moves as defined by a selected one of the dice, each of the dice corresponding to one of the vehicles 24 respectively. Should the player associated with the thiefsimulating vehicles 24 wish to effect atheft of one of the plastic discs which simulate currency, he does so simply by terminating stepwise advancement along the indicia 20 on the indicia 20 which is most proximate one of the building sites or lots 12 upon which is accommodated, as selected earlier by the player associated with the police-simulating vehicles 22, one or a plurality of plastic discs.

In this respect, should one of the dice 30 indicate that one of the vehicles 24 is to be moved over, for example, five small circular elements 20, and should movement over five elements 20 exceed that number which is required to effect a robbery, the player associated with the thief-simulating vehicles 24 may choose to terminate stepwise advancement of a selected one of the vehicles 24 prior to moving or advancing the selected vehicle 24 over the five small circular elements 20 and stop alongside the appropriate building site 12 in order to commit a robbery. The player associated with the thief-simulating vehicles 24 must, upon effecting a robbery, forfeit the remaining moves associated with the last cast of that die associated with the vehicle 24 cffecting the robbery. When a robbery is effected, the plastic discs associated with a particular robbery are withdrawn or removed from the game-board surface and maintained by that player associated with the thiefsimulating vehicles 24 until all fifty discs are withdrawn from the game-board surface 10 or, alternatively, until bail is required for one of the thief-simulating vehicles 24, which will be described further below.

Obviously, the player associated with the policesimulating vehicles 22 must cast the dice for advancing his particular vehicles 22 successively after a previous cast of the dice by the player associated with the thiefsimulating vehicles 24. However, although the player associated with the police-simulating vehicles 22 is provided with four such vehicles, only two of the latter vehicles 22 may be moved after a particular cast of the dice. In this respect, the player associated with the police-simulating vehicles 22 must choose one of the vehicles 22 for stepwise advancement corresponding to a throw of one of the dice and move another vehicle 22 corresponding to information supplied by the other of the dice accordingly.

In order to fully understand the method by which an arrest is effected, reference is now made to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. In this respect, an arrest can be made or effected in either of two ways pursuant to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. One of the ways by which an arrest can be effected is to confine one of the thief-simulating vehicles 24 between two building sites 12, in a manner illustrated in FIG. 2, such that the vehicle 24 is interpositioned between two of the police-simulating vehicles 22 such that there are no small circular elements 20 left exposed between the police-simulating vehicles 22 and the thief-simulating vehicle 24. This particular method for effecting an arrest may be generally characterized as a middle of the block" arrest.

The other method for effecting an arrest is that which is illustrated in FIG. 3, and this particular method requires the utilization of all four police-simulating vehicles 22 which generally surround one of the thiefsimulating vehicles 24 at an intersection such that there are left no remaining or exposed circular elements 20 therebetween. It should be understood that once a particular police-simulating vehicle 22 is positioned upon one of the small circular elements 20 in the middle of the block, or for that matter at an intersection, the thief-simulating vehicle 24 most proximate the policesimulating vehicle 22 in the middle of the block, must reverse its path or, alternatively, turn at an intersection in order to escape. Under no circumstances, pursuant to the rules of the game of the present invention, may a thief-simulating vehicle 24 move into or over one of the small circular elements 20 which is already taken by one of the policesimulating vehicles 22. It should also be understood that the thief-simulating vehicle 24 need not stop to effect a robbery and forfeit any remaining moves as defined by one of the dice associated with that particular vehicle 24 whenever the police car or police-simulating vehicle 22 is in close pursuit.

Obviously, if the thief-simulating vehicles 24 can steal and, thereby, cause the removal of all fifty of the plastic discs which simulate currency, there has been effected a perfect crime and, thus, the game is over. However, in order for the game to end as a perfect crime, both of the thief-simulating vehicles 24 must reach the safety zones or safe areas defined by the bridges 16, respectively, after the theft or the fifty plastic discs.

However, as indicated above, either one or both of the thief-simulating vehicles 24 may be captured by the police-simulating vehicles 22 and, therefore, the game ends when both of the thief-simulating vehicles 24 have been captured prior to effecting theft of the fifty plastic discs. When one of the thief-simulating vehicles 24 has been captured, the latter may be bailed-out" and again utilized for stealing the remainder of the plastic discs on the game-board 10.

The bail procedure can only be effected after a total of plastic discs have in fact been stolen and withdrawn from the game-board 10, and unless the player associated with the thief-simulating vehicles 24 has in fact stolen at least 25 plastic discs, he cannot bail out a captured one of his thief-simulating vehicles 24 and, therefore, the captured vehicle 24 may not be used until the 25 plastic discs have been in fact stolen or the other thief-simulating vehicle 24 has been captured by the police-simulating vehicles 22, the latter resulting in the end of the game and an unsuccessful attempt at a perfect crime.

Should, in fact, the player associated with the thiefsimulating vehicles 24 have stolen a total of at least 25 plastic discs, he may thereafter use the captured thiefsimulating vehicle 24 for further robbery upon temporarily giving up 25 plastic discs. The 25 plastic discs are maintained in trust for the player associated with the thief-simulating vehicles 24 and constitute bail for the captured thief-simulating vehicle 24. Should the player associated with the thief-simulating vehicles 24 be successful so as to steal the remainder of the plastic discs and cause the removal thereof from the game-board 10 and thereafter return to the safety zones defined by the bridges 16 respectively before one or both of the thiefsimulating vehicles 24 is again captured, then the game terminates with the successful effecting of a perfect crime.

It should be pointed out that pursuant to the game rules of the present invention when one of the thiefsimulating vehicles 24 is either in a condition of arrest" or in one of the safety zones defined by the bridges 16, then, the total value indicated by the cast of both dice may be utilized as a definition of the number of steps that the thief-simulating vehicle 24 which is not in a condition ofarrest or in the safety zone defined by one of the bridges 16 may be advanced.

It is significant to note that the police-simulating vehicles 22 may be utilized for blocking the bridges 16 thereby preventing the thief-simulating vehicles 24 from reaching the safety zones defined by the bridges 16 respectively. However, as indicated above, in order to effect an arrest at an intersection, all four policesimulating vehicles 22 are necessary and, therefore, it is clear that the maintenance of two of the policesimulating vehicles 22 adjacent the bridges 16 respectively may not be the most effective manner for effecting the arrest of the thief-simulating vehicles 24 rapidly. Thus, there is obviously a good deal of strategy associated with the decision as to movement of the particular vehicles 22 and 24 respectively relative to one another along the game-board 10, this strategy enhancing interest in the game.

It should be clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention is inherently provided with features which simulate most effectively the basic fundamental principals of law enforcement such as the prevention of crime by strategically locating the plastic discs which simulate currency along the game-board surface 10 and by the very presence of the police-simulating vehicles 22 in proximity to the thief-simulating vehicles 24. Moreover, such fundamental principles as the criminal act, capture or arrest of the criminal, bail for the criminal, recapture of the criminal or, alternatively, the effect of a perfect crime are all features present in the instant invention.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A game comprising means for defining a plurality of adjacent and intersecting pathways; game-pieces movable in stepwise fashion along said pathways; means for simulating currency having dimensions to be receivable between adjacent pathways; means extending along said pathways for selectively accommodating said means for simulating currency; means defining successive, equally spaced positions where said game pieces can stop when moving stepwise along said pathways; means for determining by chance the permitted extent of the stepwise movement of said game pieces, said game pieces including a plurality of first game pieces and a plurality of second game pieces distinguishable from said first game pieces.

2. A game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means which defines the plurality of intersecting pathways is a game-board surface upon which is provided an array of isolated geometrical configurations together defining said intersecting pathways, said configurations constituting said means which selectively accommodate the simulated currency.

3. A game as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means which defines successive positions includes indicia separated from one another along said pathways, at least one of which indicia is provided at each intersection and at least another of which indicia is interposed between two isolated geometrical configurations.

4. A game as claimed in claim 3 wherein said gameboard surface includes means for defining safe-areas into which said first game pieces are movable.

5. A game as claimed in claim 4 wherein said safeareas intersect said pathways.

6. A game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pathways extend relative to one another in inclined and in part mutually perpendicular relation.

7. A game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said chance determining means includes a pair of dice.

8. A game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means which simulates currency includes a plurality of discs.

9. A game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gamepieces include a plurality of vehicular-shaped members.

10. A game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means which defines a plurality of intersecting pathways includes an illustrative surface schematically simulating an urban environment.

11. A game as defined in claim 1, wherein said first game pieces simulate the appearance of a vehicle having a predetermined configuration, and said second game pieces simulate the appearance of another vehicle having a configuration different from said predetermined configuration.

12. A game as defined in claim 1, wherein at least two first game pieces and four second game pieces are provided. 

1. A game comprising means for defining a plurality of adjacent and intersecting pathways; game-pieces movable in stepwise fashion along said pathways; means for simulating currency having dimensions to be receivable between adjacent pathways; means extending along said pathways for selectively accommodating said means for simulating currency; means defining successive, equally spaced positions where said game pieces can stop when moving stepwise along said pathways; means for determining by chance the permitted extent of the stepwise movement of said game pieces, said game pieces including a plurality of first game pieces and a plurality of second game pieces distinguishable from said first game pieces.
 2. A game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means which defines the plurality of intersecting pathways is a game-board surface upon which is provided an array of isolated geometrical configurations together defining said intersecting pathways, said configurations constituting said means which selectively accommodate the simulated currency.
 3. A game as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means which defines successive positions includes indicia separated from one another along said pathways, at least one of which indicia is provided at each intersection and at least another of which indicia is interposed between two isolated geometrical configurations.
 4. A game as claimed in claim 3 wherein said game-board surface includes means for defining safe-areas into which said first game pieces are movable.
 5. A game as claimed in claim 4 wherein said safe-areas intersect said pathways.
 6. A game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pathways extend relative to one another in inclined and in part mutually perpendicular relation.
 7. A game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said chance determining means includes a pair of dice.
 8. A game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means which simulates currency includes a plurality of discs.
 9. A game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said game-pieces include a plurality of vehicular-shaped members.
 10. A game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means which defines a plurality of intersecting pathways includes an illustrative surface schematically simulating an urban environment.
 11. A game as defined in claim 1, wherein said first game pieces simulate the appearance of a vehicle having a predetermined configuration, and said second game pieces simulate the appearance of another vehicle having a configuration different from said predetermined configuration.
 12. A game as defined in claim 1, wherein at least two first game pieces and four second game pieces are provided. 